Printing counter



Aug. 31, 1954 B. COOPER ET AL 2,687,937

PRINTING COUNTER Filed March 5, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Bgmamm COOPER By ALBERT HOHMANN ATTOQA/EX g- 31, 1954 B. COOPER ETAL 2,687,937

PRINTING COUNTER Filed March 5, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 F INVENTOR.

BENJAMIN coopen BY ALBERT HOHMANN irraewsx Aug. 31, 1954 B. COOPER ETAL 2,537,937

PRINTING COUNTER Filed March 5, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 55 JNVENTOR. BENJAMIN COOPER BY ALBERT HOHMANN Patented Aug. 31, 1954 PRINTING GOUNTER Benjamin Cooper, New York, N. Y., and Albert Hohmann, Teaneck, N. J.; said Hohmann assignor to said Cooper Application March 5, 1951, Serial No. 213,940

' (o1. s4s 141) 2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to printing counters and in particular, to an electro-magnetic printing counter having improved digit wheel zeroizing means.

I-Ieretofore, printing counters of the class characterized by individually and independently actuable digit wheels, were restored or reset to their respective zero printing positions by means advancing said wheels through their highest order. conventionally, printing counter digit Wheels have peripherally embosed thereon, successive numerical designations representative of zero through nine. Therefore, with the printing of lower order numerals, subsequent restoration to zero printing position requires the sucessive advancement of each digit wheel through the higher numerals. Such a counter is disclosed in applicants Patent 2,344,234 issued March 14, 1944.

Counters of this class are generally, although not exclusively, associated with identification systems wherein watchmen, toll collectors, etc., are provided with individually differing keys operable to unlock related apparatus. Toll collection apparatus exemplifies the use of such keys.

Each toll collector is issued a specific key that is insertable in the toll register or related equipment, to unlock, activate and prepare such apparatus for subsequent registration of collected tolls. Each key has specific formations thereon that differ from other toll collectors keys. The particular formations actuate a counter unit which prints a number corresponding to the formations and thus identifies the toll collector using said register. Analogously, a print is made when the key is removed and the collector responsible for said key is liable for tolls collected during the interval of register operation.

After the second print has been made, the counter digit wheels are restored to zero position in preparation for the identifying of a subsequently inserted key. Electro-magnetic stepping means rotate said digit wheels to zero printing position where the stepping means are deactuated.

The present invention appertains to an improved digit wheel resetting mechanism wherein the digit wheels are returned directly to zero pointing position without being advanced through their highest order. Accordingly, one of the principal objects of this invention resides in the provision of separate means operable to restore advanced digit wheels to their respective zero printing positions.

Another object is to provide means operable to return the digit wheels to zero printing position in a direction opposite to the direction of advancement.

And another object is to provide individual returning means for each digit wheel.

A further object is to provide limit means for accurately resetting said returning digit wheels on the respective zero printing positions.

Another object is to provide printing control means operable to efiect the printing of a record of the digit wheels after the advancement thereof.

Still another object resides in the provision of means operable by said printing control means to release said digit wheels from their advanced positions for return to the zero printing positions, after the record has been printed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a highly improved and compact digit Wheel resetting mechanism of the character described, which shall be easy to operate, positive in action, which shall have a large variety of applications, and yet be practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other ancillary objects will, in part, be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which Will be exemplified in construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a printing counter embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view illustrating in part, the digit wheel advancing means.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the counter and printing means, illustrating the digit wheel resetting mechanism and controls therefor.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a bottom view detail of the counter unit.

Figure 6 is a cross-section taken along line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure '7 is a plan view of the counter unit.

Figure 8 is a cross-section of the one revolution clutch.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, I0 designates an electro-magnetic counter unit embodying the invention, and I2 designates a supporting frame therefor. Frame [2 comprises an elongated plate l4 disposed in a vertical plane and provided with oppositely extending arms l6 and i8. Integrally formed at right angles along the vertical margins of plate 54 are parallel side walls 2i}, having shoulders 22 at the base thereof. Secured to the inner face of plate M, and horizontally disposed, are a pair of electro-nagnets 26 and 28 with the respective coils 26a and 28a mounted on duplicate supporting frame pieces 2 3' and f' respectively. A third electro-magnet 3!; has coil 33a thereof oppositely mounted on a similar supporting frame piece 24 that is secured to arm is of plate Hi. Therefore, electro-magnets 26, 23 and 36 are disposed in a substantially parallel stacked relation.

"Secured by screws 3 I, to the horizontal portion of the frame piece 24', associated with electromagnet 28, are a pair of brackets 32, formed to provide two pairs of parallel arms 3 which extend marginally of the coil 28a. Interposed between one pair of arms 34 is a shaft 35 on which levers 33, Ml and G2, are pivotally journalled thus providing a pivot point therefor. Secured between arms at of the adjacent bracket 32, is a shaft i l on which armature 36 is pivotally journalled. Armature l6 has secured thereto a bifurcated member 46a adapted to receive a projection 42a dependent from lever A2. A pin t! pivotally secures lever projection 42a to bifurcated armature member 55a.

A similarly disposed bracket 32A is secured by screws SIA to frame piece 2d of electro-magnet 2G with the arms 32a thereof supporting a transverse shaft 48. Armature 50 of electro-magnet Ed is pivotally journalled on shaft 18 and is pivotally secured to lever 33 by means of dependent projection 38a, bifurcated member M and pin Q9.

Electr c-magnet 3B) is disposed in reverse relation to electro-magnets 25-2 and 28, and has secured to the opposite margin thereof, as by screws 35, a bracket 32. Arms 3% of bracket 32b support a shaft 52 on which armature 5d of electro-magnet Ed is pivotally journalled. Secured to armature 5d, and extending vertically thereof, is a bifurcated member 5 3a in which one terminal of a link 56 is pivotally secured by screw 55. The other terminal of link 56 is pivotally secured to terminal llld of pivotal lever at by screw 5?! and nut 52 a.

Pivotal levers 38, M3 and 42, are formed with angular extensions 38b, 56b and 521), respectively, for a purpose hereinafter appearing.

Secured in aligned apertures in sidewalls 2d of frame i2 is a transverse shaft 58, on which digit wheels til, 52, and 5 3 are journalled. Co -axially secured to each digit wheel is a concentric flange 65 formed to provide an annular groove 68 in the periphery thereof. A pin ill is afiixed to each of the respective digit wheels and extends transversely of the flange 66. Coil springs 12 have one end thereof anchored on the pins Ill and are secured at the other end, under tension, to suitable apertures in horizontal arm I8 of frame l2.

Interposed between shoulders 22 of side walls 29, is a plate I l having three transverse slots Ma open at one end thereof, in which digit wheels 69, 62, and 5t radially extend. Secured to one side of each of said digit wheels, is a limit stud 80 that is arranged to abut against a marginal edge of a respective slot E la and thus limit counterclockwise digit wheel rotation under the tension of springs 12. Digit wheels 68, 62 and 64 are of analogous structure and are provided with raised numerical indicia it. Said numerical indicia occupies a predetermined portion of the periphery of each wheel and is arranged in consecutive order of the numerals zero through nine. A proportional part of the periphery is provided with a like number of ratchet teeth 18.

Pivotally secured to the terminals of lever extensions 3%, 49b and 421), as by screws and nuts 83, are pawl swings 82 having one end thereof adapted for engagement with teeth 18. Projecting arms 82a of pawl springs 82 have apertures 84 therein, which are arranged to secure one end of springs 86. The other end of each of said springs is secured in a suitable aperture provided in a transverse bridge member 88. Bridge member 88 is secured to frame piece 24 of electro-magnet 26, as by screws 3m and extends transversely over levers 33, 4D and B2. lhus, springs 86 normally urge levers 3B, 40 and 42 into aligning engagement with the undersurface of bridge member 38. Accordingly, the armatures of the respective electro-magnets are normally held open. Springs further function to urge pawl swings 82 into engagement with teeth it on the digit wheels.

Pawl swings 59 journalled on a transverse shaft 92 mounted in shoulders 22, are urged into engagement with the respective digit wheels by means of springs 94%. An apertured projection a on each pawl swing fill secures one end of spring Bil thereto. The other end of said spring is afiixed to a suitable aperture in slotted plate 14. Eherefore, pawl swings 96 are urged clockwise to engage teeth if of the digit wheels.

It will be noted that each of the digit wheels to, 52 and 64 have a pawl swing 82 and a pawl swing 98 associated therewith. Pawl springs 90 are normally operative to prevent retrograde movement of the respective digit wheels. Pawl swings 82, the digit wheel advancing means, are arranged to reciprocate under the control of the related electro-magnets. Intermittent energization of an electro-magnet coil analogously attracts and releases the armature therefor. Through the associated pivotal lever, a pawl swing 82 is carried rightwardly, as shown in dotted line in Fig. 1, and the related digit wheel is rotated clockwise. Meanwhile, pawl swing '90 yields against the tension of spring B l, by the high dwell of a tooth passing thereunder. The driving stroke of pawl swing 32 rotates the encaged digit wheel sufficiently whereby the next adjacent tooth is engaged by pawl swing '90. The deenergization of the related coil permits spring 86 to restore pawl swing 82 to normal position and place said pawl swing in engagement with the tooth previously engaged by pawl swing 90.

An adjustable transverse bail 98 is provided to prevent pawl swings 32 from being cammed free by the high dwell of the adjacent tooth. The inclined edge m6 on pawl swing 82 cooperates with bail 98 to guide said pawl swing during the driving stroke. As shown in Fig. 1, digit wheel 64 has advanced one tenth of total movement and thus aligned the second raised indicium 76 with a printing line designated as P. A print taken by means hereinafter appearing, will indicate a 2 in the units column. It is apparent that any one of the digit wheels 60, 62 and Ki l may be advanced in accordance with the supplied number of electrical impulses independent of advancement of the others.

Coil spring l2 now further tensioned by the advancement of wheel fi l, is arranged to reside in annular groove Bil in the related flange 66.

Means is provided for the release of the advanced digit wheels and to this end there is provided a pair of bell-cranks H32 interposed between the digit wheels and shoulders 22. Bell-cranks I02 are journalled on shaft 58 and have transverse bails I04 and I05 disposed between the arms I02a and I02b respectively. Bail I04 underlies pawl swings 90 which are vertically aligned with pawl swings 82. Therefore, clockwise rotation of bell-cranks I02 will, through bail I04, rotate pawl swings 90 counter-clockwise which in turn abut against and rotate pawl swings 82 in the same direction.

Pawl swings 82 and 90 are displaced against the tension of springs 86 and 94 respectively, and disengaged from teeth 18. Digit wheels 60, 62 and 64 may then return under the influence of springs 12 to zero position, i. e. the position wherein stud 60 engages slotted plate 14 and the raised indicium 16 representative of zero is aligned with printing line P.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, means is provided to reset or zeroize the said digit wheels after a print has been made. To this end, there is provided a printing mechanism enerally designated as H0 and operable to print a record of the digit wheel indicia aligned with printin line P.

A vertical frame I I2 is adapted to have mounted thereon, a horizontally extending bar II4, printing mechanism H0 and a suitable paper supply associated therewith. The paper supply is briefly illustrated in Figure 3, as supply roll II6, paper strip H8 and guide rollers I20. The said supply is conventional and may be of the type wherein the paper strip is advanced with each printing operation.

Horizontal bar II4 secured to vertical frame II2, as by screws I22, supports counter unit I0 in vertical relation whereby digit wheels 60, 62 and 64 are disposed adjacent to paper strip II8.

Printing mechanism IIO, comprises a fixed shaft I24 secured at one end thereof to vertical frame plate II2. Shaft I24 is of reduced diameter at the other end to provide shoulder I24a. Journalled on the reduced diametrical portion of shaft I24 and disposed against shoulder I24a, is a printing hammer assembly. Said assembly comprises a U-shaped member I26, having affixed to the closed end thereof, a resilient hammer piece I26. Disposed between the arms of member I26 and secured by screws I 30, is a spacer rod I32. There is further journalled on shaft I24 and disposed between the arms of U-shaped member I 26, a bushing I34 provided with an underlip I36 adapted to engage spacer rod I32. Bushing I34 has oppositely extending therefrom. an arm I33 having a follower roller I40 Journalled in the terminal thereof. A retaining ring I42 retains said rotatable assembly on shaft I24.

Follower roller I40 is adapted to ride on the periphery of a cam I44 fixed on a shaft I46 journalled in a suitable aperture in vertical frame plate H2 and horizontally extending therefrom. A coil spring I48 is secured at one end to arm I38 and at the other end to a pin I50 fixed to frame plate II2. Spring I 48 thereby urges follower roller I 40 on arm I38 into peripheral engagement with cam I44.

Cam shaft I46 extends through vertical frame plate II 2 and has a gear I52 secured thereon. Gear I52 meshes with a pinion I54 secured to a sleeve I55 journalled on the shaft I53 of an electric motor I56. Motor I56 is mounted on a horizontal base plate I58 permanently secured to vertical frame plate I I2 by welding or other means. By means of the aforesaid reduction gearing, and clutch I51, motor I56 is adapted to cyclicly rotate shaft I46 one revolution for each printing operation under control of a solenoid I59. The

control means for solenoid I59 is not shown, but is, however, well known to anyon skilled in the art.

Cam I44 is of eccentric form with an abrupt change from the maximum high dwell radius to the minimum low dwell radius. The position of cam I44 shown in the drawings is normal or nonprinting and arm I38 is disposed in its maximum counter-clockwise position. Accordingly, spring I48 is fully tensioned. Under-lip I36 or bushing I34 is analogously disposed in its maximum counter-clockwise position. Spacer rod I 32 gravitationally rests on under-lip I36 thereby positioning U-shaped hammer member I26 away from paper strip I I8.

Clockwise rotation of cam I44 permits spring I48 to rotate arm I38 clockwise as follower roller I40 rides off the high dwell of the cam. Underlip I36 correspondingly rotates clockwise and hammer piece I28 is carried upwardly into striking engagement with paper strip II8. An inked ribbon, not shown, is disposed between the digit wheels and paper strip I I8, therefore, the hammer striking the paper produces a print of the digit wheel settings. It will be noted that the low dwell of cam I44 is of such radius to permit limited counter-clockwise rotation of arm I38 and consequently, under-lip I36. The limited rotation of under-lip I36 carries hammer piece I28 to a point below the point of contact with paper strip I I8 and inertia further carries said hammer into momentary strikin engagement with paper strip I I8. The hammer piece then gravitationally returns to engage under-lip I36. This momentary contact permits a paper feeding mechanism, not shown, to advance paper strip II8 during the return of the hammer assembly to normal nonprinting position.

Means are provided to actuate bail I04 and release pawl swings 82 and 90 during the remainder of the cycle of rotation of cam I44. For this purpose there is provided a second eccentric cam I60 secured to shaft I46 and disposed adjacent to frame plate II2. Cooperable with cam I60 is a lever I62 pivotally mounted at one end on a stud I64 secured to vertical frame plate I I 2. Adjacent the other end of lever I62 and secured thereto, is a spring I66, which is also secured to a pin I68 mounted on frame plate II2. Spring I66 urges lever I62 clockwise about pivot stud I64 and presents a raised protrusion I 62a in bearing engagement with the periphery of cam I60. Lever I62 is pivotally secured to link I10 by means of pin I69 thereby inter-connecting lever I62 with pivotal bracket I12. Bracket I12 comprises a pair of parallel arms I12a having pins I14, I16, disposed parallel there-between at the respective terminals thereof. Pin I16 is pivotally secured to horizontal bar II 4 by means of a mounting hinge I18. Link I10 is pivotally secured to pin I14. Also pivotally secured to pin I14 is one end of a link I80. The other end thereof is pivotally secured to an arm I02b of bell-crank I 02.

Thus, rotation of cam I60 on shaft I46, will pivot lever I62 counter-clockwise about stud I64 and pull link I10 downwardly. Downward movement of link I10 pivots bracket arms I12a clockwise to move link I downwardly. Link I80 rotates bell-cranks I02 clockwise and bail I04 thereon releases pawl swings 82, from engagement with ratchet teeth 18 on the respective digit wheels. Springs 12 thereupon return the said digit wheels to their respective zero printing positions.

When the high dwell of cam I60 has been rotatedout of engagement with lever I62, spring.

I66 restores. lever I62, links I10, I80, intermediate bracket I12 and bellcranks I02 to their respective normal positions in preparation for subsequent operations;

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of the inventionare achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiment might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment set forth, it is to be understood that all matters herein set forth orshown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention claimed is:

1. In an electro-magnetic unit, in combination, a frame having a pair of side walls extending from the margins thereof, a plurality of electromagnets secured to said frame and disposed between said walls, an angular frame extension, an electro-magnet secured to said angular frame extension, a shaft journalled in said frame side walls, a plurality of independently rotatable digit wheels journalled on said shaft, a collar afiixed to each of said digit wheels having a grooved periphery, plural resilient means each being affixed at one end to a respective digit wheel and at the other end to said frame, and adapted to reside in the grooved periphery of a respective collar, a second shaft disposed between said walls in spaced parallel relation to said first shaft, a plurality of latching pawls, resilient means normally urging said latching pawls into engagement with said digit wheels, whereby said digit wheels may rotate in one direction and being locked by said pawls against rotation in the opposite direction, a plurality of levers, armature means associated with each electro-magnet for actuating a respective lever when the associated electro-magnet is energized, a plurality of advancing pawls, each being pivotally secured to a respective lever and each being adapted to engage a respective digit wheel, resilient means normally urging said advancing pawls into engagement with said digit wheels, guide retaining means for maintaining said advancing pawls in engagement with the digit wheels during rotation of said digit wheels by said advancing pawls, and means to disengage said latching pawls and said advancing pawls from said digit wheels whereby said first resilient means affixed respectively to the digit wheels and the frame restores the rotated digit wheels to their respective initial positions.

2. In an electro-magnetic unit, in combination, a frame having a pair of side walls extending from the margins thereof, a plurality of electromagnets secured to said frame and disposed between said walls, an angular frame extension, an

electro-magnet secured to said angular frame ex-= tension, a shaft journalled in said frame side walls, aplurality of independently rotatable digit wheels journalled on said shaft, a collar affixed to each of said digit wheels having a grooved periphery, plural resilient means each being affixed at one end to a respective digit wheel and at the other end to said frame, and adapted to reside'in the grooved periphery of a respective collar, a second shaft disposed between said walls in spaced parallel relation to said first shaft, a plurality of latching pawls, resilient means normally urging said latching pawls into engagement with said digit wheels, whereby said digit wheels may rotate in one direction and being locked by said pawls against rotation in the opposite direction, a plurality of levers, armature means associated with each electro-magnet for actuating a respective lever when the associated electro-magnet is energized, a plurality of advancing pawls, each being pivotally secured to a respective lever andeach being adapted to engage a respective digit wheel, resilient means normally urging said advancing pawls into engagement with said digit wheels, guide retaining means for maintaining said advancing pawls in engagement with the digit wheels during rotation of said digit Wheels by said advancing pawls, and means to disengage said latching pawls and said advancing pawls from said digit wheels whereby said first resilient, means restores the rotated digit wheels to their respective initial positions, said digit wheel restoring means affixed respectively to the digit wheels and the frame comprising a bail adapted to engage said latching pawls to urge said latching pawls out of engagement with said digit wheels and into engagement with said advancing pawls, and to further disengage said advancing pawls from said digit wheels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 505,062 Ongley Sept. 12, 1893 766,353 Hotchkiss Aug. 2, 1904 826,561 Garrett July 24, 1906 1,140,426 Wessoleck May 25, 1915 1,167,733 Akerly Jan. 11, 1916 1,329,262 Chase Jan. 27, 1920 1,550,132 Weisinger Aug. 18, 1925 1,749,698 Evans Mar. 4, 1930 2,010,966 Seiden et al Aug. 13, 1935 2,108,400 Bland Feb. 15, 1938 2,203,707 Thompson June 11, 1940 2,281,262 Breitenstein Apr. 28, 1942.

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 558,969 Great Britain Jan. 28, 1944 

